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Post by vinnytheelf on Nov 16, 2007 23:48:26 GMT -8
What plots you should have picked up on, what information you may have missed and what leads you should be looking into whilst on the current Adventure.
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Post by vinnytheelf on Nov 21, 2007 1:44:17 GMT -8
Town criers across the lands are speaking of grave deeds done to innocents in the mystical Realm of Barovia.
"So it was that the band of Noble adventurers was given safe harbor within the Mayor's residence by his courteous and hospitable daughter, Tatyana.
It was merely moments later after breaching the eaves of the residence that the honored guests did draw weapons and begin hacking and slashing at their humble hosts.
Who can say what madness drove these formerly well reputed Heroes towards the paths of debauchery and darkness, but with the honorable and truthful attestation of one Noble Lightbringer Paladin, 'Ashlynn de Sanata Clara' there can be no doubt, dark times are ahead and the Age of Dreams perhaps was a brief respite from the Age of Nightmares, for are we not plunged once again into the darkness of hopeless eternal struggle against oppressive tyrants with the loss of these Noble warriors of the Light.. turned Dark?"
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Post by agroson1 on Nov 27, 2007 21:00:21 GMT -8
Do the ends ALWAYS justify the means? This remains to be seen....
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Post by vinnytheelf on Dec 11, 2007 1:21:42 GMT -8
Do the ends ALWAYS justify the means? This remains to be seen.... No they do not.
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Post by vinnytheelf on Dec 11, 2007 1:35:25 GMT -8
The Burgomaster was slain by Grim, little did the Knight-Martial know, for lack of looking, that the sickened Burgomaster was being spoon fed a remedy to keep the change to Zombie at bay.
Sherwood frantic finding and correct, albeit assumed, spotting of a Vampiric bite mark on the Burgomasters daughter's neck, however she too coul dhave been saved, yet this was not to be her fate, for she was hog tied and murdered in her bed by Les in a stupor of fear and mind fogged panic could be his only defense for such an atrocity, yet the deed remains.
(No one said anywhere, that the Lord of the lands of Barovia was a Vampire, yet for some reason it was assumed by all...)
A man turn up at the home, claiming to Count Von Zarovich, Lord of the lands, come to see how his Mayor is faring in his fever and checking his daugther is well during the crisis of the Zombie-plague. The Mayor by this time is dead and his daughter gagged and bound in her bedroom, being guarded by Les.
When the Count is met with the newcomers in the Mayor's residence, in the living room to chat, the party set themselves up and spring a deadly attack, without warning without comment. Chaos rules the eve and the one claiming to be Zarovich is struck down and very mysteriously exlodes into a cloud of white gas which is quickly drawn into the earth in the cellar and absorbed into the land below.
On the night of the catastrophe outside the burgomaster's home, after a small army of Zombies attack the party soon after their foul deeds... Agathon tells the party:
"Grim, I once knew you as Silverbolt. I thought that when Les brought you back from grasp of Arkhainum a part of Silverbolt remained in you. But you have taken the life of an innocent. You did not bother to learn the cause of burgomaster's illness, let alone attempt to cure him. It seems your choice to become an executioner has corrupted whatever soul you may have. Furthermore you have alienated our only ally in this land of Barovia."
"Les, I knew you as a noble dwarf dedicated to his family and protecting those who could not protect themselves. But you have chosen to steal the life of another to serve your own purposes. You have turned down a path I cannot follow. Sherwood, your lack of mental and moral activity continues to astound me. You act too rashly, and are dedicated to killing. I will not be a means for your ends." "For all of these reasons I must for the time being part with you. I will attempt to help whatever townspeople remain here, and, hopefully, discover what connection this place and its master has to my family. You all followed me here, and I thank you for doing so. However, I cannot travel with a party so tainted by evil. We will meet again, and hopefully soon, but for now, farewell."
Agathon then rushes to catch up with Ashlynn as she runs off, away from the party.
"Ashlynn, I know what you have seen abhors you, and believe me it abhors me as well. I do not know what has possessed my friends and caused them to act in such a matter. You must believe me that there is good in them. They followed me to this realm of Barovia in hopes of discovering what became of my biological family. There is some connection to Count Zarovich, but I know not what. However, the one day I have spent here has revealed to me that there is something much greater at stake. These townspeople are being poisoned by something, and perhaps whatever evil is affecting the town is also affecting my companions. My personal motives were selfish, but now all I wish is to help the people of Barovia. Together we can do so. I think we should investigate the hanging tree, where the first infected man was executed. I also suspect Count Zarovich is more than simply man. He was visiting the burgomaster at such a strange hour, and he disappeared in a cloud of smoke when my companions so rashly attacked him. Perhaps we should pay Zarovich a visit as well. What do you say Ashlynn, will you support me on this quest to rescue Barovia from whatever evil dwells here?"
(DM) As Agathon leaves the scene of the burning buildings, the town steadily growing ablaze, dark clouds draw over the village, the black smoke rising from the burning homes grasping the skies, blocking the already dim mist clouded daylight, cinders and ash choking those who breathe.. all those except Grim and the Undead who are slowly shuffling towards the town center, gathering in the streets from out of the cloud filled streets, they come closer yet they do not attack.. As the Light from Ashlynn's blade diminishes with her parting, so does the gathering of the shadows and the Undead roaming the village increase in intensity, from all directions.
Grim mounts his Nightmare steed and prepares for battle once again.. but it does not come just yet, something is different and you can all discern the change. The Zombies appear to regard you all differently now, not as a threat or flesh to feed upon anymore. Now they regard you all, in particular Grim, with cold lifeless stares it would appear a Zombie Army has gathered at the feet of Grim and awaits some signal... they number in the hundreds as far as you all can tell.
Sherwood in response to Agathon:
Bah! Begone with you then! Your pathetic attempts at maintaining some higher morale ground is a liability this party no longer needs! I tire of your meaningless rants of morality when we both know the only difference between me and you is that I am the only one willing to do what is necessary to put an end to evil! I fully offer up my soul to burn if it means cleansing something like Vampires from the land! You'd let a whole nation burn to prevent the tainting of your own insignificant soul! While you sit idly by selfishly wondering how you can take action without sacrificing I am charging ahead and offering my place in the heavens to punish and vanguish all that is wrong with this existence! To prevent the kind of pain and suffering I have witnessed all my life! Mental? Mental is holding a conversation with a vampire instead of killing it! Mental is thinking you can talk to the damned and convince them to take another path! You can call me evil if it helps you sleep at night, but this evil son of a bitch will create more good than you can ever dream of!"
Keth: Silently but solemnly the Monk bows respectfully to the group and then turns and follows after Agathon and Ashlynn, quickly darting into the shadowy smoke avoiding detection from the gathering Zombies.
Sherwood turns to Les after Agathon walks off:
"Friend, in the past despite your supposedly high morality I have often seen you take the necessary actions to punish the wicked. You have never faltered or been unwilling to do what you know to be right for the greater good. We made a great mistake staying with Grim but it is time we rectify this mistake. Darkness and evil draw upon this place and threatens to spill out upon nearby communities. We may have to again ally ourselves with Agathon. He doesn't have the resolve necessary to finish this but his power is not to be ignored and will likely prove to be useful still. Same with the female paladin. What say you?"
Les: Les feels that his obsession with the Giants has clouded his mind and his character. Things do not 'feel right' in this strange land. He decides to follow with Agathon, as he is the moral compass of the party. (DM;) Les realizes that he also cannot hold a spirit for use later on, as he attempted to do so with the BurgerMasters daughter.(DM: he used the 'moment' of her slaying to gain the Flame-Strike spell). The ends do NOT always justify the means is his lesson learned. (DM: he most certainly conveys this to those remaining and also follows Keth after Agathon).
Grim remains silent but resolute in the glow of the burning village, as dark shadows gather all around.
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Post by vinnytheelf on Dec 11, 2007 1:37:06 GMT -8
Grim:
Grim silently watches the party disband from him, sensing what they consider "evil". As Grim ponders to himself about how death can be considered evil, since as life surrounds all living things, death also binds them. Without death, wars would never end. Without death, populations would over-hunt and over-eat, destroying the world as we know it. Grim slowly watches the army of undead to gather, shadowing ever encroaching on the nearby buildings. He holds his hand to stop, giving them fair warning that they either mind his orders, or be destroyed like the rest. His mind was resolute, his purpose upon entering these lands, and the way to keep the party together, Grim must confront Strahd. The aspect of Death itself (hence the coat of arms) will face the master vampire who controls these lands.
(DM edit)
His nightmare mount rears back on his hind legs, as his cloak bellowed in the night air. The horse from the depths of hell neighed as it beat it's hooves into the air to make a cloud of black smoke before the gathering horde.
(DM) The horde of Zombies do not attack and are stayed by Grim's warning command. Sherwood realizing he should have left when he had the chance looks for a wall to back himself up against, yet finds none, and resloves himself to take some of them down with him and fight till his last living breath.
However the undead do not attack. Rather they stop and stare blankly as if in a deathly trance and sway gently from side to side.
There is silence, not even the lamenting moan of the dead is heard, only the crackling of wood aflame... and then slow clopping noise of a Horse and rider approaching on the cobblestoned streets and a dim red glow that grows steadily in intensity as the deathly hoof-beats echo omenously and the 'rider' trots closer towards the town center, full of foreboding.
A dark armored and night-cloaked Knight rides a Horse with flaming hooves and hell filled-eyes, the 'Horse's evil intent and gaze is surpassed only by the terrible baleful glare of it's master, whose red fiery eyes blaze through a darkly armored full helm. His armor is cracked and blackened from age and war. It is an ancient plate-mail he wears, intricate designs adorn the scarred and battered armor, yet only a single dark black rose is recognizable upon his chestplate.
The rotting throng part at his approach and the two riders meet in the town square next to fountain, each one silently meeting the others fell-fire filled gaze and some recognition or understanding appears to happen between the two, something not at odds with two who could ride Nightmarish beasts, such hellish horses.
The Dark Knight pauses momentarily and then speaks with an ancient and noble accent. "I am Lord Soth. I am come for another, yet I find you..." The power of his words is almost terrifying to mortal ears, Sherwood reflexively grasps his prayer beads in one hand and almost drops his Flail to clutch his heart with the other.. but somewhere within him he finds strength within to keep a grip on his wits and his weapon, for this may be his last stand.
Then, there is recognition... a flood of memories rush through his mind and he has an epifany and knows the identity of the slayer of the folk of his village. It is the Dark rider, it is Lord Soth.
Then he remembers he was a child and a strang rider entered the village and scared with his presence the weaker souls, the children and the women and the wicked. He remembers sneaking a peek at the rider when his Father told him to stay indoors. He saw the stronger and good men of the village confront the rider who had shown no aggression, but who's menace was clear and present. Sherwood's Father had boldly stood up to confront the fearfull intruder. Questions were asked, no answers were given that the Soth was content with, he was about to move on and spurred his mount forward when some of the more fearful men rushed to attack the Death Knight, they made a fatal mistake and Sherwood remembers it was the bullying Innkeeper and his brother the local ruffian who guarded the Inn and ran the local gambling den, it was they who brazenly threw their aged war-spears at Soth, these nigh relics of the last wars bounced harmlessly off the Knights back and then, his anger rose and so did he retaliate against these fickle fools. As most who bore witness to this attempted to flee the wrath and vengeance of this Knight, Sherwood's Father, grim-faced yet shaking from fear, picked up a pitchfork and stood against the onslaught, he cast one last look to his home, his family and his son and as their eyes met, Sherwood could see tears of sadness and despair in his Father's eyes, and then his head was removed from his shoulders and he was gone from him forever.
Lord Soth's retaliation was terrible, he slew everyone and his mount set afire to all the buildings its hellish hooves came into contact with, all that was left of the village known as Greenwold was ash and three young survivors. Keth, Rillick and Sherwood, who would one day meet again under fate-filled circumstance.
Sherwood now remembers this Knight of Vengeance, this Hellish Angel of retribution, this Dark Punisher... he remembers, he remembers, he remembers... and when he comes back to the present he is looking down at the ground before him, his head cast down he see's a tear slowly fall from his eye and drop to the ground, he thought he could cry no more but now he gives one up one more, for someone else, in memoriam.
Soth seems to pause as if weighing up the skeletal Knight-Martial known as Grim. He soon breaks the silence with a deathly offer that could be hard for any to refuse. It is clearly directed at Grim.
"You are worthy. Join me in my Crusade, become one of my Knights."
Sherwood gains clarity of the current situation and the history of his past and hears this unearthly offer.
(DM time to decide...)
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Post by agroson1 on Dec 12, 2007 15:54:48 GMT -8
Recovering from the panic, Les weeps quietly for his past deeds. He apologizes to the spirit of Fleshii, his cousin, and to the spirit of the Mayors' daughter. He comes to a realization...his lust to destroy the Giants must not be paid for at the cost of his own morality and soul. He has drawn the conclusion that outright genocide of the Giants is not what he seeks...for he would be as much, if not more, a monster as they.
Shall there be a reckoning for what has been wrought by the Giants against his peoples? Yes. Will he wreak vengeance at the cost of his own morality and character? No.
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Post by vinnytheelf on Dec 19, 2007 1:38:16 GMT -8
(Sherwood)
Sherwood is exhausted, much of his daily power spent, and he has been feeling the length of the day for quite some time. Despite that he does not believe that anyone else can end this. He remembers pleading with local authorities as a kid to hunt down and exterminate the undead and its leader and being turned out alone and with nothing but his memories and the clothes on his back. He remembers being stripped of his authority as a local deputy for torturing a man nearly to death who had been sentenced to jail for brutalizing his (not Sherwood's) wife.
He remembers the cult of Arkainhum that lied to him and again it was he and he alone that took the necessary actions to ensure their lies would spread no more. Even when working with others he has often been treated as an outsider and not one to be trusted even when he had not taken any action to merit such treatment. And now, faced with a dark corruption to rival even that which robbed him of his youth, Sherwood again finds himself... alone.
He curses himself for not realizing it sooner. His past, the source of his powers, his "company," everything over the course of his life has pointed him in a direction that could not, or likely would not, accept. Sherwood now knows that his destiny is to face his future alone. The only person he can trust and rely on is himself. The only person who ever cared for was interested in his well being even for a moment, was himself. And only by himself has been capable of great deeds. He cannot understand how he missed that everyone in his past has only held him back and that only upon casting others away has he realized his true potential. His path is one of solitary because in solitary he has the true power of Faith! Faith that he, Sherwood March, is solely capable of eliminating all evil and pain from this world! Faith that the reason destiny consistently isolates him from others is because it is only then that he will he be granted the strength to ascend to the role the fates intended for him; a weapon of righteous wrath!
"Balance be damned," Sherwood whispers to no one in particular, "I will purify this world if I have to burn every last foul thing in it..."
Sherwood tucks in his rosary bead and hangs his holy symbol tied by twine around his neck. He grips his flail and shield with a renewed strength he's never felt before. He stands tall, appearing to be fully in command of himself and his abilities and all signs of pain and exhaustion wiped from his face and stature. Sherwood stares Lord Soth right into his burning red eye sockets and says in a very commanding tone, "Lord Soth! I owe my life and everything that I am to you! The power that I have the abilities that I possess, none of them would I have realized if not for you intervention! But more than that, every twisted, tortured, scar I bear I also owe to you! It is a debt I have bore for as long as my mind can remember and tonight I have come to return the favor! Prepare yourself demon spawn! Arkainhum awaits..."
(DM) Soth briefly looks towards Sherwood when the Human Priest attempts to address the Death Knight, but instantly ignores him, returning his steady unearthly gaze back to Grim, waiting for a response from the Knight-Martial.
There is some kind of resolution to the situation and both Undead Knights reign their horses in and trot off up the street following the way the rest of the party had left, along the Castle road, the Zombie's parting as the riders plough easily through them.
Sherwood is denied, and all he can do is scowl at the back of his former ally and the newcomer known as Lord Soth, he watches them ride side by side as they head up the road out the town and into the darkness of the night.
And he is once more alone.
The Zombies, the hundred or so gathered in the town square, now appear to be removed of the bewitchment the appearance of Lord Soth held over them.. and their death-glazed eyes turn towards the only living being for miles... and they snarl and charge, wildly flailing at Sherwood as he stands alone.
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Post by Grim04 on Dec 19, 2007 7:56:06 GMT -8
Grim carefully examines the situation. He gaze leaves Soth and once again stares at the castle looming in the distance. "You appear to underestimate me Soth. Death serves no one, and one day I will call upon you", Grim explains as he decides his next action. "I will ride out and meet the vampire, for he took too bold of a move to attack my compatriots", Grim announced, as again the nightmare started to beat it's hooves, anxious for battle. Grim surveyed the group, watching Agathon in the distance and how he called him evil... but that still puzzled him. Even as he rose from the ground he thought that over. Death surrounds everyone, how could something so pure and honest be evil? As Grim flew into the sky he bellowed down, "Soth, do not meddle in my affairs as of yet, or you will have the same outcome as the vampire".
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Post by earthwizard on Dec 19, 2007 22:01:18 GMT -8
For clarity: Agathon never said Grim was "evil", he said his soul was corrupted. Agathon laments the loss of Silverbolt, who is truly gone now.
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Post by vinnytheelf on Dec 19, 2007 23:19:38 GMT -8
DM note:
It was the DM who said he was evil.
Killing an innocent incapacitated sick man lying in his bed is an act of heinous evil (who was being treated for the sickness btw), hence the drastic alignment shift in that one moment, my adjustment for the character and my reminding of extreme actions = dire repurcussions.
I understand Grim's outlook, I just have to act accordingly when characters do certain things that are considered drastic.
Now if you remember you all(mostly) played evil power crazy characters in last years campaign and there were very few DM actions on character sheets and no party splitting, this only ever happens when players do play opposing or drastically different alignments in the party with characters who have clearly different goals.
Its now obvious the clearly different goals have surfaced and the split has happened...
All is not lost though for as you have all played out your own parts, I am happy to say everyone has stayed true to their characters and that is Good, believe me it all makes sense and there are some things that can now begin to take place for everyone's characters.
ps. There are some things you guys have assumed and some things you guys have invented. None of them true but if little importance from my perspective because the world is still ticking over and running according to the plan. In other words you guys can think whatever you want, I just sit anc chuckle behind my DM screen. Thanks hehe
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Post by vinnytheelf on Dec 20, 2007 0:42:26 GMT -8
Sherwood seethes a half hearted curse through gritted teeth as Lord Soth and Grim ride off into the night, somehow he just knew he would be denied Justice...but his anger is soon focused on the matter at hand, that of a town full of Zombie's all hungering for his brains.
The Priest looks about yet doesnt have time or the vantage point he would hope for to assess the situation better, better for his survival and perhaps escape. He does though quickly realize he has one advantage, though they have numbers, he can have strength. His faith is strong and as the masses close in on him he utters a desperate Prayer and something miraculous occurs, he gains supernatural strength, his muscles bulging inside his armor threatening to burst the straps and clasps.
(DM note: Gained the Strength Domain (notefor Sherwood, Supernatural Strength lasts 1 round per level)
He swings his Flail with this new found zeal and begins tripping up the weaker Zombies with his typical style of combat, cutting a line towards the fountain in the center of the square where he manages to clamber up onto the structure and looks out over the four avenues available to him. One and only one is not so packed and he see's it is the one that leads toward the Church and perhaps his salvation.
Leaping back into the throngs he continues tripping up the hapless diseased bodies attacking him, a lucky bite scores a wicked wound upon his weapon arm. He blasts forth a curse at the snarling bloody mouthed Zombie and is more surprised when the undead fiend falls to its knees and its skin begins to boil surrounded by a dark light that sears and burns it where it kneels... and is destroyed
(DM note: You have learned how to Curse. Spew forth a dark Curse 1 per day. Fort save DC10 + caster level or die from Abyssal Rot in 1d4 rounds)
The Church looms closer and it is not long before Sherwood staggers up the church steps and stumbles inside the hallowed halls, he immediately turns and slams the large doors closed.. the Zombies however do not follow, looking out a stained glass window he see's the undead are milling around the outside of the Church, apparently being kept at bay by something or some power...
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Post by vinnytheelf on Dec 20, 2007 1:25:15 GMT -8
Grim exchanges words with Lord Soth, the Death Knight does not answer the warnings of the Knight-Martial and Grim rides off upwards from the ground and heads into the skies above, his Nightmare's flaming hooves leaving small spits of flame as they touch upon seemingly unsolid air.
The dark clouds above react almost immediately as Grim steers his mount towards Castle Ravenloft and Grim see's a massive looking, perhaps Gargantuan sized dark swathed Dragon rise up from within the confines of the Castle. As this shadowy Dragon ridses up the dark clouds swell and form a swirling mass over the whole of Barovia.
All living beings out in the open feel a tingling upon their skin, and note the un-natural Hurricane now raging quickly overhead, the eye of the Storm moving slowly towards the spires of Ravenloft.
The Shadow Dragon speeds forward and is soon lost within the eye of the storm, perhaps rising up and over above the terrible weather now wreaking heavy biting rain and savage winds upon those below...
Grim soon becomes wretchedly soaked and his mount shudders slightly from the effects and buffeting, yet it heeds its masters determined urgings and heads towards the castle and as it tries to shift into the safety of the Ethereal...
Grim and his mount disappear from any view.
Entering the Ethereal realm, at first reveals some harowing views of the land of Barovia below, dark and unnatural creatures roam the forests invisible to normal eyes, yet all his attention is immediately distracted by the nightmarish threat Grim see's ahead and is being now sucked in towards, the eye of the Storm is much fiercer and menacing in the Ethereal, indeed it appears that he and his mount are being drawn towards the eye and its glaring baleful darklit center... and try though he might, there is now nothing Grim can do to avoid the fate he has decided for himself , his mount collapses from the strain, its life force almost failing its form now limp and unconscious from the tearing winds, far more stronger here in the Ethereal, for this is no natural effect and this is no normal occurrance.
Grim hurtles towards the eye and is sucked into oblivion his robes and armor are ripped from his skeleton, and as his form is dragged into the coterminous conjunction, his rage filled howls echo across the realm, bleeding over into the world of the Vampire Lord.
Atop the highest spire of castle Ravenloft a nobleman stands gazing out over his realm, his blood red gaze burning across the land, his black hair and dark cape whip back and forth in the winds, his cold wet pale skin glistens in the dark and across his face a Grim, smug smile is revealed...
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Post by Joseph Barros on Dec 20, 2007 15:01:56 GMT -8
DM note: There are some things you guys have assumed and some things you guys have invented. None of them true but if little importance from my perspective because the world is still ticking over and running according to the plan. In other words you guys can think whatever you want, I just sit and chuckle behind my DM screen. If you believe in God then I am pretty sure that he sits up in heaven looking down on humanity saying the exact same thing every day. ;D
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Post by vinnytheelf on Dec 21, 2007 0:06:03 GMT -8
DM note: There are some things you guys have assumed and some things you guys have invented. None of them true but if little importance from my perspective because the world is still ticking over and running according to the plan. In other words you guys can think whatever you want, I just sit and chuckle behind my DM screen. If you believe in God then I am pretty sure that he sits up in heaven looking down on humanity saying the exact same thing every day. ;D It's funny you should make that comparison for I pretty much have seen the 'screen' and the 'Helm' he wears behind it...
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